Hangar equipment



March 25, 1930. c. BELLMANN/ 1,751,721

- HANGAR EQUIPMENT T Filed Sept. 1, 19 27 "J :2 L, x i

. INVENTOR. I CARL BELLMANN. h]

Patented Mar. 25, 1930 PATENT OFFICE.

CARL BELLMANN', or nEw YORK, N, Y.

HANGAR EQUIPMENT Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No. 216,794.

My invention relates to hangar equipment,

in particular to means to facilitate the storage of aeroplanes in a limited space, from and to which they can be moved without interference with each other; and the objects of my invention are, first, to economize in floor space, second, to provide free access for each plane to its storage space, third, to provide free access to each plane when in its allotted place, and fourth, to systematically subdivide a hangar for the storage of planes.

I attain these objects by a staggered ar-- rangement of construction, in which alternate planes are raised above the planes lo- 13 .cated in between, the wings of the first planes overlapping the latter ones. Whereas heretofore the width of a hangar had to be made at least equal to the number of aeroplanes which had to have free access to it in a given 2 direction, multiplied by the average spread of those aeroplanes, I reduce, by my invention the width of the hangar required under similar circumstances to about two-thirds of that product. 1 The equipment I use in the execution of my invention is detailed in the accompanying drawing inwhich-' Figure 1 is the front elevation of a hangar constructed .according to my invention the foundation and the ground being sectioned in line with the front of the hangar.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same;

hangar.

Figure 3 is the front elevation of a hangar with modifications in the application ofmy invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional side View of the same hangar. Monoplane 6 and biplane 10 which should show in that view, are omitted.

Figure 5 is a side view of part of Figure 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar objects and parts throughout the several views.

6, 6, 6 and 7 are monoplanes, 8, 8, 8, 9 and 10 are biplanes; I show my invention in its application to these most commonly used types of aeroplanes. Its applicability to all other types of aeroplanes is obvious. If the plane .has no wheels, for instance in the case of some sea-planes, the surface of the platform may be shaped .to oflI'er a-suitable sup-- port, and this part, as well as thetracks on the incline leading to it, may be lubricated to facilitate sliding or otherwise, moving the planes into and out of location.

In Figures 1 and 2, 11 is the normal floor or ground level;'the aeroplane storage levels are at 12, 12, and 12 and at 13 and 14. Inclines 15 and 16 lead down and up to these levels respectively. The difference between the high and low levels is roughly equal to the distance between the lowest and highest points of the aeroplane-wings, plus an allowance of about two feet for clearance. If the hangar serves for monoplanes only, the diii'erencebetween these levels may therefore be made smaller than for biplanes or for both, monoand bi-planes. I

The high storage levels, or platforms 13 and 14, are made wide enough for the convenient accommodation of the undercarriage of the aeroplane, and their width also allows space for mechanics to have access to and work on the motor and the body.

Toprevent the aeroplane .from falling ofi on the sides, when moved to and from the platform, guard-rails 17, 17 may be provided on the edge of the platform, as well as on the incline. If the generalconstruction of the under-carriage on the plane and its tail al-' low a central clearance space, these guard rails 17 ,17 may be replaced by one guide-rail in the center of the platform.

In Figures land 2, my invention, the platform and storage levels are constructed of concrete stone work. The cost involved in installing my invention in this form hardly exceeds the expenditure of a solid concrete floor. The ground excavated for the low levels 12, 12, 12 may be used to build up the plat- I forms'13 and 14. In the drawings the slope of the inclines is chosen at an approximate ratio of 1:7. For heavier aeroplanes this angle of the incline may of course be decreased according to the discretion of the constructor, or he may increase it on account of lack of space.

The inclines 15 and 16 being "located outside of the hangar 18, the enclosure has to be only deep enough to accommodate the full length of the aeroplanes. The door 19 I have 1 indicated as of a vertically sliding type;

openings 20 and 21 in the bottom of the doorare shaped to fit ox'cr these platforms. The

' opening of the door must, in thiscase be pit is not desirable, the lower levels and the platforms may be raised sons to bring the a lower level up to or above the ground level.

In that case platform and incline will assume the shape indicated in Figure 5.

Platform 22 in Figures 3 and 4 represents a variation in the construction of my invention. This platform has as a support a narrow structure 23. By the use of this platform I gain an additional saving in space, the wing of the adjoining aeroplane being located below that platform. If I fixedly attach an incline to this platform, the adjoining plane 6 cannot be moved unless I take it out of the hangar in the opposite direction; to overcome this difficulty I use a movable incline 24, mounted on wheels 25 which may be attached to and detached from the platform. as desired. An incline of this typemay be used for several platforms and its wheels may be arranged to run in transverse tracks on the floor.

The hangar construction of Figure 4, in which the hangar extends over the incline as well as over the platform, may of course be used the same way for my invention as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

If a hangar is equipped with platforms 22, or similar'plat-forms with only one movable incline like 24:, that incline may be moved over to the side of the hangar, who no planes are to be taken in or out, and the space in front of the platforms is then available for other kinds of work. I use a suitable catch or lock, to fasten the movable incline to the platform in connection with which it is to be used.

At 26 I show incline and platform movable as one unit on wheels 25, which may be arranged to run in transverse tracks. This way of constructing my invention is advantageous, when the assortment of aeroplanesto be stored in a hangar are of different sizes. If for instance, two shorter aeroplanes are to be stored in thehangar of Figure 3, instead of the larger plane 10, in addition to the planes 6, 7, and 9 which are also in the hangar, the movable platform 26 is moved to the left, until the two small planes can be stored, one to the left and the other to the right of that platform.

Instead of having platform 26 in one unit, it may be divided into two parts, the incline and the platform. which both are movable independently; such' an arrangement will combine the advantages of the movable incline,

with those of the movable platform outlined above; such an equipment will naturally require an additional pair of wheels for the incline.

It will be seen that my invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the aircraft supporting floors of a hangar, and of utilizing this novel floor construction and arrangement, to carry out a novel method of permanently or .transiently storing aircraft in a hangar, so that the maximum amount of storage facility for aircraft, of either like or different size and construction, may be obtained in a hangar having a given or minimum interior cubic space; my improved construction and method resulting in an arrangement of the stored aircraft in a series of rows, at alternating different levels, so that .the adjacent rows are in staggered relation to each other, so that any of the aircraft in any given row may be introduced into or removed from the hangar without interference from or interfering with any of the aircraft in any of the other rows, and so that free and convenient access may be had at all times to any of the stored aircraft for inspection, repair, or other purpose, and so that supporting floor sections of the higher levels may be transversely adjustable, relatively to the-supporting floors of the lower level, to vary the spaced relation of the higherlevel of supporting floor sections to any desired position on, or relatively to, the lower floor sections, for the accommodation therebetween of aircraft of any given span of wings.

I claim:

1. In a hangar, an aircraft supporting floor, partitioned into a series of sections of a width not less than the span from tip to tip of the wings of an aircraft to be housed therein, and of a length equal to the overall length of said aircraft, the partitions separating said floor sections from each other comprising an elevated runway, of a width not less than the width of the running gear of an aircraft to be travelably supported thereon, of a length substantially that of the supported aircraft, and of a height, from the surface of said floor sections not less than the distance between the highest and lowest points of the wings of the aircraft being supported on the adjacent floor sections and elevated runways.

2. In a hangar, an aircraft supporting floor, partitioned into a series of sections of a width not less than the span from tip to tip of the wings of an aircraft to be housed therein, and of a length equal to the overall'length of said aircraft, the partitions separating said floor sections from each other comprising an elevated runway, of a width not less than the width of the running gear of an aircraft to be travelably supported thereon, of a length substantially that of the supported aircraft, and of a height, from the surface of adjacent floor sections and elevated runways, and ramps to dehver sa1d aircraft onto and;

from said runways.

3. I11 :1 hangar, an aircraft supporting floor, partitioned into a series of sections of a width not less than the span from tip to tip of the wings of an aircraft to be housed therein, and of a length equal tothe overall length of said aircraft, the partitions separating said fioor sections from each other comprising an elevated runway, of a width not less than the width of the running gear of an aircraft to be travelably supported thereon, of a length substantially that of the supported aircraft, and of a height, from the surface of said floor sections, not less than the distance between the highest and lowest points of the wings of the aircraft being supported on the adjacent floor sections and elevated runways, and ramps connected to said runways to deliver said aircraft thereonto and therefrom.

4. In a hangar, an aircraft supporting floor, partitioned into a series of sections of a width not less than the span from tip to tip of the wings of an aircraft to be housed therein, and of a length equal to the overall length of said aircraft, the partitions separating said floor sections from each other comprising an elevated runway, of a width not less than the width of the running gear of an aircraft to be travelably supported thereon, of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said floor sections, and of a height, from the surface of said fioor sections, not less than the distance between the highest and lowest points of the wings of the aircraft being supportedon the adjacent floor sections and elevated runways, said elevated runways having longitudinal barriers on either side thereof, to guide said aircraft in traveling movement along said runway.

5. In a hangar, an aircraft supporting floor, longitudinally partitioned into a series of sections of a width not less than the span from tip to tip of the wings of an aircraft to be housed therein, and of a length equal to the overall length of said aircraft, the longi tudinal partitions separating said floor sections from'each other comprising an elevated runway, of a width not less than the width of the running gear of an aircraft to be travel ably supported thereon, of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said floor sections, and of a height, from the surface of said floor sections, not less than the distance between the highest and lowest points of the wings on the aircraft being supported on the adjacent floor sections and elevated runways,

and ramps connected to said runways, to deliver said aircraftthereonto and therefrom said elevated runways and said ramps having longitudinal barriers on either side thereof,

to guide said aircraft in traveling movement along said runways and said ramps.

6. In a hangar, an aircraft supporting floor, longitudinally partitioned into a series of sections of a width not less than the span V from tip to tip'of the wings of an aircraft to be housed therein, and of a length equal to the overall length of'said aircraft, the longitudinal partitions separating said floor sec-' tions from each other comprising an elevated runway, of a width not less than the width of the running gear of an aircraft to be travelably supported thereon, of a length substantially equal to the length of one of said floor sections, and of a height, from the surface of said floor sections, not less than the distancebetween the highest and lowest points on the wings on theaircraft being supported on the adjacent floor sections and elevated runways, means to adjustably move said runways to any desired position transversely, relatively to said floor sections, and ramps, detachably connected to said runways and movable transversely therewith, and relatively thereto, to deliver said aircraft thereon and therefrom.

7. In a hangar for storing aircraft, a plu- I sufliciently wide to travelably support said aircraft'thereon, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels will be supported in relatively'staggered relation, and said aircraft on any of said levels may be introduced into said hangar and placed in supported positions thereon or removed therefrom, without interference from or interfering with the placement or removal of aircraft on any other of said levels.

8. In a hangar for storing aircraft, a plurality of aircraft supporting levels of different height, said supporting levels each being sufficiently wide to travelably support said aircraft thereon, the higher levels having longitudinal barriers along either side thereof to guide said aircraft in traveling movement along said levels, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels will said aircraft thereon, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels.

will be supported in relatively staggered relation, and said aircraft on any of said levels may be introduced into said hangar and placed in supported positions thereon or removed therefrom, without interference from or interfering with the placement or removal of aircraft on any other of said levels.

10. In a hangar for storing aircraft, a plurality of aircraft supporting levels of different height, said supporting levels each being sufficiently wide to travelably support said aircraft thereon, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels will be supported in relatively staggered relation, and said aircraft on any of said levels may be introduced into said hangar and placed in supported positions thereon or removed therefrom, without interference from or interfering with the placement or removal of aircraft on any other of said levels, and ramps to deliver said aircraft onto and from the higher of said levels.

11. In a hangar for storing aircraft, a plurality of aircraft supporting levels of different height, said supporting levels each being sufficiently wide to travelably support said aircraft thereon, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels will be supported in relatively staggered relation, and said aircraft on any of said levels may be introduced into said hangar and placed in supported positions thereon or removed therefrom, without interference from or interfering with the placement or removal of aircraft on any other of said levels, and ramps movable transversely relatively to the higher of said levels to deliver said aircraft thereonto and therefrom.

12. In a hangar for storing aircraft, a plurality of aircraft supporting levels of different height, adjustable transversely relatively to each other, said supporting levels each being sufficiently Wide to travelably support said aircraft thereon, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels will be supported in relatively staggered relation, and said aircraft on any of said levels may be introduced into said hangar and placed in supported positions thereon or removed therefrom, without interference from or interfering with the placement or removal of aircraft on any other of said levels, and ramps connected to the higher of said levels to deliver said aircraft thereonto and therefrom.

13. In a hangar for storing aircraft, a plurality of aircraft supporting levels of diflerent height, said supporting levels each being sufficiently wide to travelably support said aircraft thereon, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels will be supported in relatively staggered relation, and said aircraft on any of said levels may be introduced into said hangar and placed in supported positions thereon or removed therefrom, without interference from or interfering with the placement or removal of aircraft on any other of said levels, and ramps connected to the higher of said levels to deliver said aircraft thereonto and therefrom, said higher levels and said ramps having longitudinal barriers along either side thereof to guide said aircraft in travelling movement along said ramps and said higher levels.

14. In a hangar for storing aircraft, a plurality of aircraft supporting levels of differ-' ent height, adjustable transversely relatively to each other, said supporting levels each being sufiiciently wide to travelably support said aircraft thereon, and said different levels being of a height relatively to each other and so positioned laterally relatively to each other that said aircraft on different levels will be supported in relatively rtaggered relation, and said aircraft on any of said levels may be introduced into said hangar and placed in supported positions thereon or removed therefrom, without interference from or interfering with the placement or removal of aircraft on any other of said levels, and ramps detachable from and movable transversely relatively to the higher of said levels to introduce said aircraft thereonto and therefrom.

15. In a hangar for storing aircraft having a body portion and wings extending laterally therefrom, levels of different height, adapted to travelably support said aircraft, and so spaced laterally relatively to each other, that said wings of aircraft supported on one of said levels extend into the area vertically and horizontally bounded by one side of said body portion and wings extending therefrom, respectively, of aircraft supported by adjoining ones of said levels.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 31st day of August, A. D. 1927.

CARL BELLMANN. 

